Marco Simoncelli (born in Cattolica, Rimini, Italy, January 20, 1987 - died in Sepang, Malaysia, October 23, 2011 at age 24 years) is one of the MotoGP riders who came from Italy, and is quite famous for its racing character is quite fierce.

Aoyama Will Join WSBK for 2012

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Former 250cc world champion, Hiroshi Aoyama, will leave MotoGP at the end of this season. Honda Gresini rider decides to flee to the World Superbike Championship with Castrol Honda's factory team in the 2012 season.

Aoyama joins Honda Gresini MotoGP team this season, after an injury in his debut with the team membekapnya Interwetten Honda. The only Japanese rider in the premier class grid records the best achievements in his career when it finished fourth in the second series in Jerez this year. But after that, Aoyama never get any better than the seventh position, and now stands at number-10 standings, with only the remaining three series again.

Although a team with Italian rider Marco Simoncelli, Aoyama did not receive the same treatment. Both are in a satellite team, Aoyama given specification RC212V machine, which is similar to that of LCR rider, Toni Elias - while Simoncelli provided the same engine with Honda's factory team, such as those used Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso.

"Driving in MotoGP over the past two seasons is a great experience for me," said Aoyama.

"I want to thank Fausto Gresini and all the staff, as well as the mechanics at the San Carlo Honda Gresini team, for the period is extraordinary in this career, as well as everyone in the MotoGP paddock, which has helped and supported me.

"Now I am staring a new challenge in a new competition - World Superbikes - where I hope to do a good job with my new team."

Aoyama, who recorded nine victories for six musimn in the 250cc class before moving to MotoGP, will a team with Jonathan Rea. While Simoncelli, who has extended his contract with Gresini Honda and for the 2012 season, has not got a tandem.